Toilet brush and holder

ABSTRACT

A combination toilet implement and holder therefor includes an implement handle having first and second handle ends, a handle intermediate portion between the first and second handle ends, and a shield retaining structure. An implement head is provided attached to the handle proximate the second handle end. A shield is provided that at least partially surrounds the handle intermediate portion. The shield has first and second shield ends in turn having first and second shield openings respectively. The first shield opening is oriented toward the first handle end and the second shield opening is oriented toward the second handle end and is sized so as to be capable of surrounding the implement head. The shield is movable along the handle toward the implement head so as to at least partially surround the implement head and so as to be movable along the handle away from the implement head so as to be engaged with the retaining structure to prevent the shield from falling over the implement head during use. A base is provided having an inset boss portion sized to accept and store the implement head when surrounded by the shield. The invention permits more sanitary and convenient use and storage of bathroom implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toilet brushes and holders for such brushes.Toilet brushes and holders therefor are well known. Such brushes andholders unfortunately have one or more disadvantages relating tosanitation, convenience of use or both. In particular, the brush istypically not covered around its edges upon removal from or replacementback to a holder for the brush. This results in a condition where thesides of the brush may contact unintended surfaces when it is beingmoved resulting in an unsanitary condition. Holders are typically deepthus making retention of soiled water from the brush likely and makingcleaning a chore with a probability of contamination when reaching intothe holder during cleaning. Brushes are seldom provided with deflectorsduring use thus making it likely that water from the toilet can besplashed onto the handle during use. The top portion of a holder isoften not covered thus making it possible for pets, small children andcareless adults to reach into the holder again creating an unsanitarycondition. Holders are however known where removable covers are providedbut removing the cover before accessing the brush is inconvenient andoften unsanitary. It has been known that a cover may be attached to ahandle of a toilet implement, e.g., a plunger as described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,446,792, but the height of the cover near the top of the handlegreatly interferes with visibility during use. A tapered type cover thatmight form a part of a handle is shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 413,470but the cover clearly interferes with visibility during use and cannotbe moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a combination toilet implement and holder for thetoilet implement.

The combination toilet implement and holder therefor includes animplement handle having first and second handle ends, a handleintermediate portion between the first and second handle ends, and ashield retaining structure. An implement head is provided attached tothe handle proximate the second handle end. A shield is provided that atleast partially surrounds the handle intermediate portion. The shieldhas first and second shield ends in turn having first and second shieldopenings respectively. The first shield opening is oriented toward thefirst handle end and the second shield opening is oriented toward thesecond handle end and is sized so as to be capable of surrounding theimplement head. The shield is movable along the handle toward theimplement head so as to at least partially surround the implement headand so as to be movable along the handle away from the implement head soas to be engaged with the retaining structure to prevent the shield fromfalling over the implement head during use. A base is provided having aninset boss portion sized to accept and store the implement head whensurrounded by the shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thecombination toilet implement and holder of the invention with thetapered shield in place around the implement head and stored in thebase;

FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thecombination toilet implement and holder of the invention with thetapered shield moved upwardly so as to expose the implement head and soas to engage the taper of the handle; and,

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the combination toilet implement andholder shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the implement has an elongated implementhandle having and intermediate expanded diameter and a taper ofincreasing diameter (shield retaining structure) toward a holding end(first end) of the handle. In this embodiment, the implement alsoincludes an operating implement head attached to an end of the handle(second end) distally removed from the holding end of the handle. Theoperating implement head may for example be a toilet brush head or atoilet plunger head. The shield is preferably a tapered shield that hasfirst and second open ends. The first open end is provided with a firstopening and the second open end is provided with a second opening. Thefirst opening preferably surrounds the handle between the expandeddiameter and the taper of increasing diameter and sized so that thefirst opening cannot easily pass completely over either the expandeddiameter or taper of increasing diameter. The shield is oriented so thatthe first opening faces the holding end of the handle. The secondopening in the second open end is sized so as to be capable ofsurrounding the operating implement head. The tapered shield is movablealong the handle so as to surround the implement head and stabilize thehandle in an upright position when the first opening is proximate theexpanded diameter and so as to be frictionally engaged with the handlealong the taper of increasing diameter when the first opening isproximate the holding end of the handle. The holder includes a basehaving an inset boss portion sized to accept and store the implementhead when surrounded by the second open end of the shield.

The combination toilet implement and holder of the invention completelyovercomes or significantly reduces problems associated with prior toiletimplements and holders. Specifically, upon sliding the shield over theimplement head, e.g. a toilet brush, the brush is covered around itsedges upon removal from or replacement back to a holder for the brush.This results in a condition where the sides of the brush cannot contactunintended surfaces when it is being moved resulting in an unsanitarycondition. The holder itself is shallow thus reducing likelihood ofretention of soiled water from the brush and making cleaning of theholder relatively simple with reduced probability of contaminationbecause reaching into a deep holder during cleaning is not necessary.The shield, upon sliding upwardly upon the handle, acts as a deflectorduring use thus making it unlikely that water from the toilet can besplashed onto the handle during use. The holder is completely covered bythe shield when the shield is slid toward the implement head and placedin the holder thus reducing likelihood that pets, small children andcareless adults will reach into the holder creating an unsanitarycondition. The simple sliding of the shield away from the implement headis easy and convenient and eliminates problems of storage of a coverduring implement use. The tapered nature of the shield of the preferredembodiment allows viewing along the shield at an angle thus increasingvisibility over a flat or disk shaped shield design.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the figuresillustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to beunderstood that the preferred embodiment illustrated is for purposes ofexplanation and not for purposes of limitation of the breadth of theinvention as claimed.

As seen in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the combinationtoilet implement and holder of the invention 10 includes an implementhandle 12 having first and second handle ends 14 and 16 and a handleintermediate portion 18 between the first and second handle ends 14 and16. The handle 12 also has a shield retaining structure 20 preferably inthe form of a taper of increasing diameter. An implement head 22, e.g.,a brush, is attached to the handle 12 proximate second handle end 16. Ashield 24 is provided that at least partially surrounds handleintermediate portion 18. The shield is preferably of taperedconfiguration. The shield 24 has first and second shield ends 26 and 28in turn having first and second shield openings 30 and 32. The firstshield opening 30 is oriented toward first handle end 14 and secondshield opening 32 is oriented toward second handle end 16. Second shieldopening 32 is sized so as to be capable of surrounding implement head34. Shield 24 is movable along handle 12 toward implement head 34,preferably to surround implement head 34 so as to surround implementhead 34 and so as to be movable along handle 12 away from implement head34 so as to engage with retaining structure 20, e.g., increasing handletaper, to prevent shield 24 from falling over implement head 34, e.g., atoilet brush, during use. A base 36 is provided having an inset boss 38sized to accept and store implement head 34 when surrounded by shield24. Preferably, handle 12 is also provided with an expanded diameter 38between handle ends 14 and 16 that prevents the shield from droppingcompletely onto implement head 34. As best seen in FIG. 4, first shieldopening 30 can frictionally engage with retaining structure 20, e.g.,increasing handle taper, to retain shield 24 during use. In thepreferred embodiment, the relatively large second shield opening 28helps to stabilize the handle in an upright position when it coversimplement head 34.

1. A combination toilet implement and holder therefor comprising: animplement handle having first and second handle ends, a handleintermediate portion between the first and second handle ends, and ashield retaining structure; an implement head attached to the handleproximate the second handle end; a shield at least partially surroundingthe handle intermediate portion, said shield having first and secondshield ends in turn having first and second shield openingsrespectively, said first shield opening being oriented toward the firsthandle end, said second shield opening being oriented toward the secondhandle end and being sized so as to be capable of surrounding theimplement head, said shield being movable along the handle toward theimplement head so as to surround the implement head and so as to bemovable along the handle away from the implement head so as to beengaged with the retaining structure to prevent the shield from fallingover the implement head during use; and a base having an inset bossportion sized to accept and store the implement head when surrounded bythe shield.
 2. The combination toilet implement and holder therefor ofclaim 1 where the implement head is a toilet brush head.
 3. Thecombination toilet implement and holder of claim 1 where the handle hasan expanded diameter between the first and second handle ends thatprevents the shield from dropping completely onto the implement head. 4.The combination toilet implement and holder of claim 1 where the shieldretaining structure comprises a taper of increasing diameter toward thefirst handle end and the first shield opening is sized so as tofrictionally engage with the increasing taper as the shield is movedtoward the first handle end.
 5. The combination toilet implement andholder of claim 1 where the shield stabilizes the handle in an uprightposition when the shield surrounds the implement head.
 6. Thecombination toilet implement and holder of claim 1 where the handle isaxially elongated.
 7. A combination toilet implement and holdercomprising an elongated implement handle having and intermediateexpanded diameter and a taper of increasing diameter toward a holdingend of the handle; an operating implement head attached to an end of thehandle distally removed from the holding end of the handle; a taperedshield having first and second open ends, said first open end beingprovided with a first opening and the second open end being providedwith a second opening, said first opening surrounding the handle betweenthe expanded diameter and the taper of increasing diameter and sized sothat the first opening cannot easily pass completely over either theexpanded diameter or taper of increasing diameter, said shield beingoriented so that the first opening faces the holding end of the handle;said second opening in the second open end being sized so as to becapable of surrounding the operating implement head, the tapered shieldbeing movable along the handle so as to surround the implement head andstabilize the handle in an upright position when the first opening isproximate the expanded diameter and so as to be frictionally engagedwith the handle along the taper of increasing diameter when the firstopening is proximate the holding end of the handle; and a base having aninset boss portion sized to accept and store the implement head whensurrounded by the second open end of the shield.